About “Entangled in Costa Rica”, you can watch our documentary “Entangled in Costa Rica” here
The United Nations (UN) estimates that between 600,000 to 800,000 tons of ghost gear – lost, abandoned or discarded fishing gear – is dumped into our Ocean every year. Such pollution kills or injures more than 100,000 dolphins, whales, seals and turtles from ingesting or becoming entangled in that plastic debris.
“Entangled in Costa Rica” is the name of our project that is seeking to mitigate this global crisis in the Ocean.
We’re working to protect marine animals by:
- Creating a team of sea animal disentanglement experts with members of the local community and the tourism industry. They will be provided with professional tools and training to empower them to address this issue so they can help sharks, turtles, cetaceans and other sea animals.
- Offering our boat to take action during entanglement emergencies in the South Pacific of Costa Rica. Supporting Innoceana projects and research to continue developing innovative strategies to preserve marine life in the area.
- Inviting local communities and the global public to participate in citizen science projects to educate, train and create awareness about this issue.
- Apply pressure over local authorities and politicians with the support of a competent legal team:
-Advocating for a new law that prohibits industrial fishing and other specific fishing practices during whale migration seasons in Costa Rica.
-Establishment of a biological marine corridor between Caño Island and Corcovado National Park so the area is finally recognised as a Marine Protected Area – MPA.
How can you help?
Our goal is to reach $100,000 and every donation counts!
Donating to the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisation Innoceana is one way in which you can contribute to the protection of vulnerable marine species in the South Pacific Coast of Costa Rica and help rescue animals entangled in fishing gear. Let’s prevent this situation from happening again!
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TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS – 501(c)(3)
All cash donations are tax-deductible up to the extent allowed by the IRS. Innoceana is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization and our tax ID number is 84-4780735.
DO YOU WANT TO DONATE WITH CRYPTOCURRENCY?
Please contact the team.
About the rescue & The Vegan Pirates:
On the 11th of July 2019, Zobeida an instructor at Drake Divers – South Pacific of Costa Rica, received a call about a whale entangled in fishing lines. She organized the rescue mission, prepared the boat, and called for support in the area. This call is how Carlos, Laura, and Yulian of the Innoceana Team became involved and jumped into the boat headed to rescue the whale, along with fellow dive guides.
When the improvised rescue team, equipped with machetes and kitchen knives, localized the whale, it was found entangled in more than 3 miles of fishing lines full of hooks and buoys, along with her young calf and 2 dead sea turtles.
After the rescue, Innoceana wanted to show the world what they had witnessed but did not have the resources and skills to do so. Fortunately, they met Coco & Pipa, an amazing couple with incredible skills that together form The Vegan Pirates. Without them, this documentary would not have been possible. Let them explain:
“When we first met Yulian on a dive trip to Isla del Caño, a small island in the South Pacific of Costa Rica, we didn’t know that it would change the course of the next few months and that it would also bring us in contact with more like-minded human beings. He was our dive instructor and he had also incredible knowledge about the humpback whales that migrate to Costa Rica every year to mate and raise their calves. He told us about the organization Innoceana and the rescue mission they participated in to save two entangled whales. So for us, it was just a logical step that – with our background in media production and our engagement in marine conservation – we decided to help and use our skills to create a documentary about this event. After months of more research and editing, we finally finished the documentary and are so happy and proud to already have been chosen for some festivals. This is a really big step to raise awareness for these events.”
This type of event occurs every day around the world and not only with whales: entangled dolphins, sharks, sea turtles, manta rays, etc. Rescuing any type of animal from entanglement is dangerous and difficult. We have to create trained rescue squads equipped to answer these types of life or death emergencies in a secure way; and involve all of the local boat captains and guides in the training. But to achieve that, we need YOUR HELP.
